TIME FOR TONY TO TECH A BOW

Savage insists Bloom's data revolution has transformed Jambos and Scottish football

- BY GORDON PARKS

JOE SAVAGE believes the arrival of Jamestown Analytics at Hearts has triggered a data-led revolution in Scottish football.

The former Tynecastle sporting director casts an envious eye on Gorgie as the partnership of Tony Bloom's firm and wise stewardship of boss Derek McInnes has opened up a seven-point Premiership lead.

But the 41-year-old is adamant whatever happens in this season's title race, his old club have already shattered the cynicism over computers taking the lead in recruitment departments as the sport embraces a new technical age.

He said: "Bloom coming in at Hearts is transformative in so many ways. There had been murmurs when I was at the club that Tony would be interested in buying a stake but nothing materialised then.

"When I first went into Hearts we had nothing like what is now in placewe had no data.

"We really had no recruitment department - only John Murray who always had a running list of players to look at.

"We built up the recruitment department, built up the data and analysis unit and I like to think I had a good record we finished third, fourth and third.

"We worked hard to create a culture within the club that is now being taken on. We held recruitment meetings every fortnight and assessed things.